CCC vs LFP Cricket Club

It was yet another hot, hot day in Apremont for CCC's fifth match of the season, against the LFP Cricket Club. The fixture was originally supposed to be against Thoiry, but they must have written it on their fixture calendar using invisible ink. They informed us two days before the fixture that they had no idea about the fixture, so the LFP Cricket Club thankfully stepped up at the 11th hour.

With Nick C still on his way to the ground, and Eddy looking for something in the boot of his car, Jimmy joined the opposition captain for the toss. Jimmy's only other toss for CCC was a loss against the Embassy, but flipping a coin instead of a beer mat worked for Jimmy this time. Not wanting to send the troops out into field in the mid afternoon heat, Jimmy chose to bat, much to the delight of the Chantilly players crammed under Eddy's gazebos.

Nick S and Dominic padded up first, only to pad down (is that the verb for taking your pads off?) very shortly afterwards. With both openers gone and the total still in single digits, Chantilly were already wondering if this would be another one of those innings where they have to defend 60 runs. Eddy and Shaban started to calm the team's nerves however, playing some beautiful strokes and hitting the boundary at regular intervals. The two batsmen formed a great partnership, steering the CCC ship towards 70 runs after only 10 overs. Suddenly the Chantilly players were wondering if they might finally discover what it would be like to defend 200!

At this point, I had to pick up Balaji from the train station, leaving the grounds with a positive spring in my step. Unfortunately, I returned to discover that the entire middle order had come and gone while I was away. It reminded me of the time that I saw 'Castaway' at the cinema in Guernsey. Tom Hanks was on a plane, then the projector broke down and we all had to leave the theatre for 10 minutes, and then the film resumed with him living on an island. I had to hear about the plane crash from other people days later. It also reminded me of the time I sat in a bar drinking half-price double rum and cokes, only to wake up in bar alone at 8am with the lights off and the doors locked.

Anyway, back to the cricket.....

Upon my return to the ground, I learnt that Eddy had been bowled for a fantastic 26, Shaban caught for a brilliant 38, and Patch had been bowled for a very useful 15. Nick C, and Saravanan hadn't fared so well, scoring only 2 runs between them.

Adrian had been given one ball between coming off the field as umpire to having to pad up and get back out there (thanks Nick C!) so didn't even have a chance to get his breath back before hearing the death rattle second ball. So Balaji got his pads on in record time, and strode out to the middle with the total on 113; still a healthy run rate after only 20 overs, but with dangerously few wickets remaining, and the CCC tail now exposed. Luckily Balaji was keen to make the most of his innings, having spent the last 3 and a half hours trying to get to the ground. He quickly racked up 30 runs; seven of which were 4s. (before you get your calculators out, that means he only hit two singles). Jimmy did his best to support him from the other end, but both batsmen eventually fell, leaving Roddy not out, and CCC with a competitive 169 from 28 overs.

The teas don't deserve a mention (Carrefour cakes and dry, been-in-the-hot-car-for-too-long-sandwiches will never win the 'tea of the year' award, so they won't get a mention. Although they seem to have just been mentioned, so there we go).

With a decent score to defend, Captain Clarke decided to mix things up a bit by opening the bowling with the youthful pairing of Saravanan and Patch; a plan which quickly began to bear fruit. LFP lost wickets at 15, 16, and 21, (Saravanan 2 wickets and Patch 1) as that unfamiliar whiff of victory started rolling in across Polo ground # 4.

The first bowling change came in the form of Adrian from the non-pavillion end. His first ball not only landed on the pitch, but also had perfect line and length, and so began the best spell of spin bowling seen in Apremont since....well...the last time Adrian bowled this well. He completed his full allocation of 6 overs for only 29 runs, while also taking a wicket (bowled too) along the way. It has to be said though that about 20 of those runs were wides! - Ed.

Meanwhile, Jimmy had started up from the gazebo end, and was giving the batsmen a clinic in swing bowling, taunting them with inswingers and outswingers that they simply couldn't touch. He also completed his spell of 6 overs, albeit wicketless, although he had a lot of fun along the way watching the batsman hopelessly try and make contact with the ball whilst the keeper and slip wondered which way to go next.

By the time drinks rolled around, LFP still hadn't reached 50 runs, and were 4 wickets down. With Eddy and Shaban still waiting their turn to get the red leather ball in their hands, CCC players were not asking themselves if they could win, but whether they would celebrate with a Heineken or a Corona.

The match wasn't over yet however, and the LFP batsmen went through a consolidation period for several overs. No wickets fell again until the 19th over, and although CCC's total always seemed a little too far out of reach, a few big overs could certainly make things interesting. Those big overs never came however, with Eddy and Shaban coming into the attack to finish off the job. The last 5 wickets were taken by Chantilly's two star all-rounders; Eddy taking 2 and Shaban snaring 3.

LFP's final total was 117. Chantilly winning by 43 runs, which was funnily enough exactly the same number of extras that LFP and CCC had both given away.

CCC are now 2 wins from 5 matches. Can they go 3 from 6 before the summer break?

Many thanks must go to all players who helped with the scoring, umpiring, preparation of the ground, and setting up of the gazebos and tables.

Nick Sansbury must also get a mention for an outstanding demonstration of wicket keeping, taking two fine catches and stopping nearly everything that came his way - except that stumping! - Ed